A visible fluorescent nanovaccine based on functional genipin crosslinked ovalbumin protein nanoparticles

Accurate and efficient antigen delivery is crucial for inducing a strong and long-term immune response. A visible protein nanovaccine made from antigen could provide a novel and promising technology for secure and efficient delivery of the antigen with imaging visualization. In this study, a functional nanovaccine based on genipin crosslinked ovalbumin (OVA) fluorescent nanoparticles with chitosan (CS-OVA-NPs) was developed. The nanovaccine can carry abundant antigens by self-crosslinking without additional carriers. The fluorescence imaging technique was applied to monitor and reveal the process of antigen delivery in vivo based on the fluorescence of genipin with a non-invasive and real-time manner. This functional OVA nanovaccine can enhance the uptake of OVA in Dendritic Cells (DCs) and further promote DCs to maturate in vitro. In vivo study further indicated CS-OVA-NPs could trigger antigen-specific immune responses, which demonstrated that this fluorescent nanovaccine provided a novel design approach for accurate and efficient vaccine delivery.     

High genetic diversity and recombination events of porcine astrovirus strains identified from ill and asymptomatic pigs in 2017, Hunan Province,China

Astroviruses (AstV) are associated with enteric and systemic disease in mammals and birds. Astroviruses have received increased attention recently as they have been found to be associated with sporadic neurologic disease in mammals including humans. In pigs, porcine astrovirus (PoAstV) can be widely detected and has been grouped in five genotypes (PoAstV1 to PoAstV5). In the present study, we detected multiple PoAstVs in serum samples, nasal swabs, and fecal swabs collected from pigs suffering from respiratory disease or diarrhea but also from asymptomatic pigs, indicating a wide tissue tropism of the identified PoAstV genotypes. Coinfection of different genotypes in the same pig was commonly observed, and within an individual pig a high genetic diversity was observed for viruses belonging to the same PoAstV genotype. Two complete genomes of PoAstV2-WG-R2/2017 and PoAstV4-WG-R2/2017 were successfully obtained and characterized, with genome sizes of 6396 and 6643 nucleotides, respectively. The PoAstV2-WG-R2/2017 genome showed identities of 67.2–77.4% to other known PoAstV2 genomes, and the PoAstV4-WG-R2/2017 genome showed identities of 72.8–80.5% to other known PoAstV4 genomes. The predicted spike domain of open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of these strains showed the highest genetic heterogeneity, with amino acid identities of 13.7–70.9% for PoAstV2-WG-R2/2017 to other known PoAstV2 strains, and identities of 24.4–63.3% for the PoAstV4-WG-R2/2017 to other known PoAstV4 strains. Possible recombination events were identified in each of the two sequences. Two subclades of PoAstV2 and three subclades of PoAstV4 were defined in the present analyses. The obtained data provide further evidence for extraintestinal infectivity of PoAstVs, and confirmed the high genetic diversity of PoAstVs and the coinfection potential of different PoAstV types in a single pig.

     

Predictive risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with small size non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Accurate clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is essential for developing an optimal treatment strategy. This study aimed to determine the predictive risk factors for lymph node metastasis, including both N1 and N2 metastases, in clinical T1aN0 NSCLC patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated clinical T1aN0M0 NSCLC patients who showed no radiologic evidence of lymph node metastasis, and who had undergone surgical pulmonary resection with systematic mediastinal node dissection or sampling at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University between January 2011 and June 2013. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for node metastasis.

Results

Pathologically positive lymph nodes were found in 16.2% (51/315) of the patients. Positive N1 nodes were found in 12.4% (39/315) of the patients, and positive N2 nodes were identified in 13.0% (41/315) of the patients. Some 9.2% (29/315) of the patients had both positive N1 and N2 nodes, and 3.8% (12/315) of the patients had nodal skip metastasis. Variables of preoperative radiographic tumor size, non-upper lobe located tumors, high carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and micropapillary predominant adenocarcinoma (AC) were identified as predictors for positive N1 or N2 node multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Pathologically positive lymph nodes were common in small size NSCLC patients with clinical negative lymph nodes. Therefore, preoperative staging should be performed more thoroughly to increase accuracy, especially for patients who have the larger size, non-upper lobe located, high CEA level or micropapillary predominant ACs.     

Major Hepatectomy Is a Safe Modality for the Treatment of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in Selected Patients Complicated with Cirrhosis

Objective

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of major hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings in 42 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and in 102 patients with normal livers who underwent major hepatectomy for ICC.

Results

Preoperative liver function was worse in patients with cirrhosis compared to patients without cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher intraoperative blood loss, longer operation time, and longer hospital stay than non-cirrhotic patients. However, the two groups had similar overall morbidity and hospital mortality rates and similar rates of liver failure or other complications. Their R0 resection rates, resection margin widths and disease-free survival rates were also similar.

Conclusions

Major hepatectomy for ICC can be performed in selected cirrhotic patients with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates, as compared to patients without cirrhosis.     

Targeted thrombolysis strategies for neuroprotective effect

Stroke is usually treated by systemic thrombolytic therapy if the patient presents within an appropriate time window. There is also widespread interest in the development of thrombolytic agents that can be used in cases of delayed presentation. Current agents that can be used in cases of delayed presentation of nerve damage by thrombus. Current systemic thrombolytic therapy is associated with adverse effects such as fibrinogenolysis and bleeding. In an attempt to increase the efficacy, safety, and specificity of thrombolytic therapy, a number of targeted thrombolytic agents have been studied in recent years. This review focuses on the concepts underlying targeted thrombolytic therapy and describes recent drug developments in this field.     

Clinical status of Sagliker syndrome: a case report and literature review

In a 53-year-old woman, Sagliker syndrome developed during 22 years of treatment with intermittent hemodialysis as a result of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) complicating end-stage renal disease. She failed medical managements and lost her renal graft just after the kidney transplantation due to acute rejection. Although surgical parathyroidectomy was effective, the parathyroid hormone level became extremely high again due to recurrent hyperparathyroidism. It is possible that such patient could survive long-term with dialysis, but prevention of severe SHPT is the most important.     

Effectiveness and safety of endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel decompression

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) using a meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trials.

Materials and methods

Electronic searches of the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 11 of 12, Nov 2012), PUBMED (1980 to Dec 2012), and EMBASE (1980 to Dec 2012) were used to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated endoscopic vs open methods for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Studies to be used were independently identified by two researchers. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias.

Results

Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving 1,596 hands were included. Based on the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias, four studies were rated as high quality, five studies were rated as moderate quality, and six were rated as low quality. Our meta-analysis indicated that ECTR resulted in better recovery of pinch strength, earlier time of return to work, but a higher rate of reversible nerve problems (including neurapraxia and numbness) than OCTR. ECTR also resulted in a lower rate of irreversible nerve damage (P > 0.05), wound problems (including wound infection, wound hematoma and wound dehiscence) and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (P > 0.05) compared with OCTR. Our meta-analysis revealed no obvious statistical differences in relief of symptoms (pain and paraesthesia), recovery of grip strength and reoperation rate.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials demonstrated that ECTR and OCTR were similar in relief of symptoms, but ECTR resulted in better recovery of function and earlier return to work and was safer than OCTR.